Watch the goal below
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"A little bit with the head of Maradona and a little bit with the hand of God."
Those
four words -- "the hand of God" -- describe one of the most iconic
moments in football history, a goal that belongs to one of the most
iconic footballers in the game's history -- Diego Armando Maradona, who
has died at the age of 60.
Maradona was born in 1960 in the Villa Fiorito area of Buenos Aires and would go on to become one of the most famous faces on the planet.
On
the afternoon of that moment of divine intervention, a sweltering day
in Mexico City in 1986, Maradona was at the peak of his powers.
While
that first goal against England in the quarterfinals of the 1986 World
Cup -- a punch of the ball over goalkeeper Peter Shilton, a player who
stood 20 centimeters taller than the diminutive Argentine -- showcased
Maradona's guile, the one that followed four minutes later displayed in
full the majesty of his footballing abilities.
After
receiving the ball inside his own half, Maradona weaved this way and
that, his short, stocky legs pumping rapidly as he left seven England
defenders in his wake, rounded Shilton and slotted the ball into the
net.
"Genius! Genius! Genius!" went
the legendary commentary of announcer Victor Hugo Morales. "What planet
did you come from? I want to cry."
So did England's players, and its nation of football fans, but not for the same reasons. That second goal was later voted FIFA's "World Cup Goal of the Century." It's a fitting title for undoubtedly one of the greatest goals ever scored.
Maradona
was unquestionably a household name before the 1986 World Cup, but
after leading Argentina to the title he became a bonafide global
superstar.
The highs and lows
Maradona's
stratospheric highs on the pitch were matched by extreme lows off it.
His well-documented addiction, substance abuse, illegitimate children
and feuds over money all blighted the Argentine at various stages
throughout his career.
An
unacknowledged son, photo ops with the mafia and cocaine binges were
shown in British Oscar-winning film-maker Asif Kapadia's documentary on Maradona's time at Napoli, arguably the period of his footballing career where he had the most success.
While
he was captivating the world and bringing glory to Argentina in Mexico,
Maradona's personal life was shrouded in controversy.
His
mistress Cristiana Sinagra was back in Italy, heavily pregnant with
Diego Armando Maradona Sinagra. For years he refused to acknowledge
paternity and did not meet his son until 2003.
Kapadia's
film shows occasions when Maradona came into contact with the Camorra
-- the Neapolitan mafia -- with the documentary flashing up photographs
of the footballer smiling alongside members of the crime syndicate.
As
a Napoli player at the height of his addiction he would party from
Sunday to Wednesday, Maradona describing how he would return home and
lock himself in the bathroom to hide from his infant daughters.
The God of Naples
Despite
football eventually leading him down this dark path, Maradona described
the sport as his "salvation." His talent helped him raise his family
out of poverty, leaving Boca Juniors in his native Argentina for a world
record transfer fee to Barcelona in 1982.
The
five foot, five inch magician spent two injury-ravaged years at the
Catalan club, never fully realizing his potential, before signing for
Napoli -- or, as one newsreader put it: "The poorest city in Italy buys
the most expensive player in the world."
In the city of Naples, football is a religion to its inhabitants. Maradona would go on to become their God.
At
his unveiling, 70,000 fans flocked to Napoli's San Paolo stadium to
catch a glimpse of their new signing, scarcely able to believe that the
greatest footballer on the planet had chosen to play for their team.
During
his seven years at the club, he would guide Napoli, almost
single-handedly, to its first ever Serie A title in 1987. He followed it
up by winning a second three years later, while also leading the team
to Italian Cup and UEFA Cup glory.
Murals
of Maradona's face are painted far and wide across the city, some
depicting "The Golden Boy" with a shimmering halo. Though he hails from
another continent entirely, Maradona became Naples' adopted son.
Following
a failed drug test in 1991 and a 15-month ban from football, as well as
another failed drug test at the 1994 World Cup, his career on the pitch
fizzled out. While he had stints in Spain and back in Argentina, he
failed to reclaim that form which dazzled fans and opponents.
Maradona's
subsequent nomadic managerial career has taken him from a chaotic spell
in charge of the Argentine national team to the domestic league in the
United Arab Emirates.
His time in
charge of Mexican club Dorados, which was documented in the behind the
scenes Netflix series "Maradona in Mexico," was surprisingly successful,
but ultimately ended with two narrow promotion play-off defeats.
The
red carpet has been rolled out wherever Maradona has gone -- or a
throne, as was the case when he returned to boyhood side in Newell's Old
Boys' while in charge of current club Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata.
Many have played the game, but none have left a lasting mark quite like El Diego.
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